Social media searches are more beneficial to your local small business over Google searches. Why? Social media yields results based on what your friends think- and that’s the stuff you really care about. Let’s say you’re looking for a new restaurant to try. Which one are you more likely to choose; the one Google search picks or the one that 10 of your Facebook friends like?
Connecting super local on social media is worth it to establish the presence of your business in your community and attract attention. Let’s face it- those Yellowpages are being left on your doorstep for weeks because most research into a business is now done so online. By using social media marketing to target locally, there’s a better opportunity to connect with existing and potential customers than with traditional marketing.
When it comes to your small business, you already know location matters. Location-based services like Foursquare and Yelp are a great way to be found, talked about, and engaging. Claim your listing on Foursquare and make sure it’s accurate and complete. The game-like set up of Foursquare makes it fun for your customers to check in and leave a tip. Locals and travelers will find you when they’re in the neighborhood and they will come to you because they trust the validation from previous customers.
Yelp is another go-to resource people use to find local business. Again, claim your listing and fill out all the fields. Yelp is beneficial to your business in that it allows customers to leave a review about their experience, and you the opportunity to respond. These reviews are a great way for you to get involved in your community. Their full of information on what’s important to those people coming in to support your business, including the areas you’re shining in and could work on. It literally pays to listen to your customers these days. They will notice if you’re listening to their suggestions and taking action. This is just another way to use social media to your advantage.
Local small business is social so make social media work for you; and stay tuned for an upcoming video tutorial from us on Yelp.
